Preliminary results indicate

You’ll usually find this at the beginning of a sentence to set the stage for a discovery. The structure is almost always: [Preliminary results indicate] + [that] + [something is happening]. For example, Preliminary results indicate that the new marketing campaign is working. Notice how that sounds much more impressive than 'I think people like the ads.' You can also use it in the middle of a report to transition between raw data and your initial thoughts. If you're writing an email to a boss who is breathing down your neck for an update, this is your best friend. It gives them the 'meat' they want without making you liable for errors. It’s like a 'Beta' version of a video game—functional, but might have some bugs to fix later.

This is a solid C1-level phrase. It lives in the 'formal' to 'very formal' neighborhood. You won't hear a teenager say this while ordering a pumpkin spice latte—unless they are being extremely sarcastic about their bank account balance. It is the standard language of scientific journals, medical trials (think of all those vaccine updates on the news), and corporate quarterly reviews. However, in modern remote work culture, it’s becoming more common in 'neutral' settings like Slack or Microsoft Teams. Using it shows you have a high 'lexical range,' which is a fancy way of saying you know the 'big boy' words. It’s the linguistic equivalent of wearing a tie with jeans—professional, but not necessarily stiff.

Imagine you’re a UX designer at a tech startup. You’ve run a test with five users, and they all hated the new 'dark mode.' You tell your team, Preliminary results indicate the users find the new UI confusing. That sounds way better than 'Everyone hates it, guys.' Or think about a travel vlogger checking their analytics. They might post an Instagram story saying, Preliminary results indicate you guys love the Tokyo series more than the Bali ones! Even in sports, when a player gets an MRI, the team doctor might say, Preliminary results indicate a minor strain, not a tear. It’s the language of the 'early reveal.' Even Netflix uses similar logic when they show 'Trending Now'—those are preliminary results of what people are watching this morning!

Use this whenever you have a 'partial picture.' If you've finished 40% of a project and your manager asks for a status update, this phrase is your shield. Use it in academic writing when you are discussing a pilot study. It’s also great for 'expectation management.' If you think a project might fail, using this early can soften the blow later. 'Preliminary results indicate we might miss the deadline' sounds like a responsible warning, whereas 'We're going to be late' sounds like an excuse. It’s also perfect for LinkedIn posts where you want to sound like a 'thought leader' sharing early insights from a survey you ran. Basically, use it when you want to look like you have your life together.

Do not use this for things that are already 100% certain. If you are looking at your empty bank account, don't say Preliminary results indicate I am broke. You're just broke. That's a final result. Also, avoid it in deeply emotional or personal settings. Telling your partner, Preliminary results indicate I am annoyed with you is a great way to end up sleeping on the couch. It’s too cold and clinical for romance or deep friendship. Avoid using it for trivial choices, too. If someone asks if you want pizza or tacos, saying Preliminary results indicate a preference for pepperoni will just make your friends think you’ve spent too much time talking to ChatGPT. Keep it for the data, not the soul.

A very common error is saying Preliminary results indicates. Remember, 'results' is plural, so the verb 'indicate' must match! Don't be that person. Another mistake is combining it with words that mean the opposite. ✗ Final preliminary results indicate... is a logic nightmare. Is it final or is it preliminary? You can’t be both, like a vegan who eats steak. Also, watch out for ✗ Preliminary results indicate about... You don't need 'about.' Just state the result. Finally, don't use it if you have zero data. If you're just guessing, use 'I suspect' or 'It seems.' If you say preliminary results, people will expect to see a spreadsheet or at least a very organized napkin.

If you want to spice things up and not sound like a broken record, you can try Initial findings suggest or Early data points to. In a more casual office, you might hear Early signs show. If you're feeling particularly 'Harvard Professor,' you could go with Tentative evidence proposes. For the tech-savvy, Early analytics indicate is a popular choice. In the UK, you might hear Early indications are that... which is a bit more 'wordy' but very polite. All of these do the same job: they act as a 'maybe-yes' before the 'final-yes.' It’s like saying 'I’m 70% sure' but in a way that gets you a promotion.

Is preliminary the same as initial? Pretty much! Preliminary sounds a bit more like there’s a formal process involved, whereas initial just means 'first.' Can I use it for bad news? Absolutely. In fact, it’s better for bad news because it gives you a tiny bit of hope that the final result might be better. Is it only for science? Nope! Use it for marketing, sales, gaming stats, or even how many people liked your last TikTok. Do I always need the word that after it? Usually, yes, if you're following it with a full sentence. It keeps the grammar clean and easy to follow. Just think of it as the 'glue' for your smart-sounding discovery.